Machine for manufacturing expanded metal.



Y 0'.. J. W. HAYES. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1907.

1,125,526, Patented Jan.19,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wh 'mess is O. J. W. HAYES. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXIPANDED METAL.

I v 7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 19117. I 1,125,5Qfi Patented Jan.19, 191,5,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS Es l 0 J. W. HAYES. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

I APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 9. 1907. 1. 125 5%,

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

WITNESS ES lam/mama Patented Jan. 19, 191.5.

0.1 W. HAYES. I I MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

PPPP IUATION FILED QEPT 9 1907.

. 1 125 526 Patented 112111.19, 191 i 4 s EEEEE SHE1JT 4.

- l/ e IIIIIIYIII/IA e WITNESSES STAT .; aiENTorrreE.

CHARLES J. W. HAYES, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, EY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To BRECKINBIDGE JONES, TRUsTEE, on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING- EXP ANDED METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Jan. 19,1915.

Application filed September 9, 1907. Serial No. 391,957.

manufacture of the product commonly knownas expanded metal, and which consists of a slitted sheet of metal having the strands thereof bent to form an open-mesh fabric.

' It is the object of the invention to obtain a simple construction of mechanism for forming the Said product, and to this end the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, with special reference to the means for expanding or deflecting the strands of the fabric during the feeding movement incident to the slitting operation;

further, in the arrangement of the stationary deflectors for causing theexpansion; further in the novel arrangement of a stepped series of slitting cutters and stationary deflectors; further in the novelconstruction of the slitting cutters; and further in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of the parts as hereinafter set forth.

'In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the frame of the machine partly in section along line of slot; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion .of the machine showing a strip of the metal operated upon in the machine. One series of strands is shown not fully expanded. Fig. 3 is a cross section at mm of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 iS-a perspective view of a portion of the machine showing the relation to the machine of the metal operatedupon. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the stationary deflectors. Fi 6 is a perspective view of a pair of cutting and feeding disks and an abutment disk in. section showing their working relation. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of slot as at any point midway between pairs of cutting disks.

In general construction, my improved machine comprises a series of pairs of slitting after described.

cutters adapted to simultaneouslyslit the blank and feed the same forward, together with a cooperating series of stationary members for laterally deflecting the strands of the slitted sheet. As shown, A is a suitable frame, inwhich is journaled a longitudinally extending worm-shaft B, which meshes with a series of worm gears C, respectively mounted upon vertical shafts or arbors D, also journaledin the frame. At the upper end of each of these vertical shafts or arbors is mounted a cutter disk E, which cooperates with an adjacent cutter disk F mounted upon a stationary journal j. These cutter disks are arranged to form a stepped series, each succeeding pair being located in a lower plane, separated from the plane of the preceding pair by a space equal tothe width of a strand of the fabric. Thus if a strip of sheet metal is fed between the pairs of disks it will be successively slitted in a diagonal line across .the width of the sheet.

he disks E and F, in addition to their function of slitting the sheet, also form feeders for advancing the sheet during the operation of expanding, as will be herein- To this end each. of the disks E is preferably formed with a serrated or toothed edge a, which overlaps the peripheral edge Z) of the disk F. Above the disk F is another disk S of lesser diameter, which is arranged opposite the disk E and cooperates with it in feeding. The disk E is preferably peripherally grooved, so as to form an acute angle cross section in relation to each of its sides. It is further provided with one or more peripheral recesses or cut away portions f, two being shown in the drawing, which interrupt the continuity of the slitting of the sheet and form the bonds between adjacent Strands. Thus in operation, as the metal sheet is fed between the disks E. F and S, the teeth a will be embedded in the sheet to firmly grip the same and produce a positive forward feeding movement at the same time. As the teeth a completely overlap the disk F they will shear the sheet to form the separate strands, while the disk S will form a cooperating abutment for retaining the gripping action of the teeth a.

As has been stated, the expanding operation is performed without movement of the .25 a of expansion.

' parts other than those necessary to the for .with straight-edge portions g.

ward movement of the sheet. This is accomplished by arranging in the path of each strand, as it passesfrom the slitting cutters, a stationary deflector HJ This is a plate having a .suitably formed edge e to cause a gradual bending and lateral deflection of the strands during. forward movement until the desired degree of openness of mesh is effect ed, when the engaging portion of the strand slips past the deflecting edge and resumes a directly forward motion. As shown, the deflectors I-Iarev secured to the frame by cap screws and lap over one another covering the disks. E. These platesare also provided Upon the frame A and opposite each deflector plate,

. 'but' upon a lower plane, is secured a straight edg ed plate J partially covering and retaining disks F and S and separated from the plate H by afspace somewhat wider than the gage of the metal operated on. These straight edges. on said plates form guides for preventing distortion of the strands and for retaining the metal at the desired degree "For guiding the metal sheet as it is fed between the cutters of the series, suitable guides are arranged, preferablyv as shown,

by forming a slot K in the frame through which the sheet metal is passed. This will retain thebody or unslitted portion of the metal in the plane of feed, and limit the bending'to the slitted strands.

With the construction as described in operation a' sheet of metal of suitable gage and any width less than the depth of slot is inserted'in the slot K, and moved into engagement with a pair of slitting disks E and F. Rotary motion being communicated to the I worm shaft B, each of the worm wheels C,

together with the arbor D on which the same is mounted, will be driven, which will impart rotary movement to the toothed cutter disk E. This will cause the forward feeding of the sheet and simultaneous slitting ofthe same to form a strand. As the sheet advances it will successively pass into engagement with other pairs of slitting disks E and F of the series, the number of which will be determined by the width of the sheet operated. on. Each of the defiec-.

tors His so arranged in relation tothe cutting disks that in theforward movement of the slitted sheet thebonded portion of the strands will engage and ride along the in clined o r cam face of the deflector, simultaneously bending the adjacent strands connected by the bond until it rides off the cam face on to the straight edge of the plates and bonded portion succeeding engages the cam face when the operation will repeat, forcing intermittently the rows of strands expanded farther and farther out. This action, after forward along these guides until another thesheet is in full engagement, will siniu'l taneously oecurthroughout the entire seriesand consequently advancement equal to the length of a strand will cause the expansion of a diagonal series of strands extending across the entire width of the sheet.

It will be understood, that with my construction I am able to accomplish by the stationary deflectors II that which has heretofore been accomplished only by the use of a multiplicity of moving parts.

In its simplest conception, the frame A of the machine,'with its slot and the series of plates Hand J, may be regarded together as forming'simply a guideway orsort of drawing die by which the slitted'met'al is shaped tion, there is no practical limit to the width .or length of sheet that may be expanded, it

being only necessary to-provide a sufiicient extension of the series of parts, For convenience of adjustment, I preferably journal the disks F ands upon eccen-' trio reduced end portion j of the vertical shaft or post L secured fromrotation in the frame by set screws M. i This arrangement permits of adjusting disks F and 3' toward or away from their cooperating disks E by in passing throughit. With my construcloosening the set screw M and rotating the post L with its eccentric journal. What I claim as my lnvention 1s: 1. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination with means for ad-- vancin'g a slitted sheet, of a plurality of stationary members in the path of the strands of said sheet, forming deflectors for expanding'the same, said members producing .the entire expansion of the sheet.

2. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination with means for simultaneously advancing a sheet and slitting the. same to form bonded strands, of a stationary member of substantially the same width as a strand of the slitted sheet for engaging the bonded portion of adj acentstrands to deflect the same from the plane of rated or toothed shearing edge, the serrated or toothed portions of the shearing edge being active. 5. In a machine for making expanded -metal, a rotary shearing cutter provided with aserratedor toothed shearing edge, the

angle cross section,-the serratedor toothed' portions of the shearing edge liein active,

and a cotiperati'ng rotary cutter over tapping the teeth of the first-mentionedcutter;

7. In a machine for making expanded metal, a stepped series of pairs of rotary shearing cutters, and co'ciperating stationary means for expanding the slitted strand in proximity to each pair of cutters.

8. In a machine ,for making expanded- -metal,' a series of pairs of combined slitting cutters and feeding rolls and astationary deflector adjacent each pair of cutters for expanding the strand cut thereby.

9. In a machinefor making expanded metal, the combination with means for advancing a slit'ted metal sheet, of a guide for retaining the body portion of said sheet in the plane of feed, and a series of stationary deflectors for successively expanding the strands of the sheet during the longitudinal feedin thereof.

10. n a machine formaking expanded metal, in combination with a frame comprising a guidevvay for the metal, a series of re tary arbors in stepped relation to each other,

rotary slitting cuttersmounted on said ar-.

bors, and a drive shaft extending the length of said series and connecting gearing'for communicating rotary movement from said shaft'to eaclrof the arbors.

11. A machine for making expanded metal comprising a guide for a slitted metal lic sheet, a PQIUOIIIOI said guide being ar-' ranged to retain said sheet in a fixed plane, and another portion being adapted to deflect the strands of the sheet during the movement thereof through the guide ivherel v the sheet is expanded.

12. In a machine for making expanded "metal, a shearing disk having a portion of its perlphery, for forming in the sheet a slit' of corresponding length toothed or serrated to grip and positively advance the sheet.

13. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination of'a frame comprising a guideivay of gradually decreasing depth for the metal. and a series of pairs of slitting cutters arranged in stepped relati on to each other and along guidoway.

14. A machine for making expanded metal comprising a guideway With shaped stationary restraining walls adapted to expand a slitted sheet in passing through it and means for forcing said sheet through said guideway.

15. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination of a frame comprisying a guidetvay of gradually decreasing expanding 'tlie'same. a 16.,In a 'machine for expanding metal, a stepped'series pairs of rotary shearmg putters, and a 'cooperating stepped series of stationary deflectors for expanding the .strands, there being one deflector for each pair of cutters.

17. In a machine for making ex anded metal, the combination with means or advancing a sheet and simultaneously slitting the same to form bonded strands, of members in the path of said strands adjacent said means forming deflectors for expanding the strands, said members producing the entire expansion of the sheet.

18. In a machine for making expanded metal, the combination with means for slitting a sheet to form bonded strands, of separate means for expanding each strand separately and independently and operating immediately after the slitting means.

19. In a. machine for making ex anded metal, the combination with means or slitting a sheet to form bonded strands, of separate stationary means for expanding the strands and operating immediately after the slitting means.

20. In a machine for making ex anded metal, the combination with means or slitting a sheet with successive series of cuts arranged diagonally of the sheet to form bonded strands, of separate means for expandin the strands and operating immediately'af ter said slitting means on successive diagonally arranged series of the slitted and bonded strands as the sheet advances.

21. In a machine for making expanded -metal, the combination with a stepped series of slitters adapted to form the sheet into bonded strands, of means for expanding the strands and so arranged that while one strand is being cut, the next one adjacent it transversely of the sheet and in advance thereof is being opened,

22. In a machine of the character described,'in combination: a plurality of rotatable slitters adapted to slit a sheet to form bonded strands; and independent stationarymeans for expanding the strands as the sheet moves thereover and operating immediately after the slitters. substantially as speci tied.

In a machine 'of the character described. the combination of a plurality of slitters adapted to slit a sheet to form scribed, in combination, a plurality of ro- In testimony whereof I alfix my signature tata-ble slitters adapted to slit a sheet to in presence of two Witnesses.

Q form bondedstrands and stationary means CHARLES J AYES;

disposed adjacent said rotatable slitters for expanding the strands automatically With- WVitnesses:

out altering the direction of movement of JAMES P. BARRY, the sheet, substantially as specified. NELLm KINSELLA. 

